Vehicle propulsion.



W. J. ROSTERN.

VEHICLE PROPULSION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 3,1914.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- WITNESSES ATTORNEY W. J. ROSTERN.

VEHlCLE PROPULSION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3. 1914.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

LQSBAQQ,

WITNESSES.- I MENTOR.

A TTORIVE Y WILLIAM J. nosrnnn, on NEW roan, .N. Y.

VEHICLE r'norULsIon.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 191i.

. Application filed. October 3, 1914.. Serial No. 864,836.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. Ros'rERN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Propulsion, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in vehicles, andmore particularly to means of propulsion of sleds, wagons and the like,such as are ordinarily employed by children as a means of amusement andsport.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a means forassisting in the propulsion of a vehicle, such as a sled for instance,by applying a sudden shock or a blow thereto in a manner, whereby theimpact will add to or increase the momentum of the vehicle, so that itwill cover or travel over a greater distance than would otherwise bepossible.

Another object of my invention is to pro duce a means for obtaining theresult just described, which will be simple to operate, and the art ofproperly manipulating the same may be readily acquired by a child of themost tender years, thereby greatly increasing the pleasure derived fromthe use of the sled and at the same time, causing the child, or otheruser of the vehicle, embodying my invention, to indulge in exercise,which will be beneficial to parts of the body, which are not broughtinto movement by the use of a vehicle, in which my.invention is notemployed.

My invention also contemplates the provision of means of vehiclepropulsion, as and for the purposes heretofore described, which will besimple in construction, durable and economical to produce, so that itmay be readily embodied in the building of a vehicle of any type towhich it is adaptable without increasing the cost of that vehicle to anymaterial extent, over what it would cost to manufacture the same.without the addition of my improved'propelling means. Furthermore, myinvention mav also be applied to any exlstlng forms 0 veh cles, to

which it is adaptable without materially v changing the constructionthereof.

My invention also comprehends a device of the character described, whichwill embody elements of structure, which will make it positive inoperation under various conditions of use and will result in theattainment of the highest efficiency in the accomplishment of theobject, for which it is intended.

In order to clearly illustrate and describe my invention, I have electedto show it as applied to a sled of the so-called flexible type, such asis commonly used by children and adults for coasting purposes, though Iwould have it particularly understood that I do not limit myself to thissingle application of my invention, since it is obvious that it may alsobe used in connection with a wheel vehicle and that the principle may beapplied to vehicles of difierent kinds, having a more utilitarianpurpose, than those designed for the use of children, as a source ofamusement or sport.

I shall now proceed to describe my, invention with reference to theaccompanying drawings, and then point out with more particularity, theessential elements of novelty therein in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plain view of a sled embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig, 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line A-A, of the vehicle shownin Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the sled shown in Fig. 1. i

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 13-13 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a wheel vehicle with my invention appliedthereto.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the vehicle shown in Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of a sled,

showing a. modification of my invention.

Referring now to the drawm'gs in detail, in which like characters ofreference are employed to designate similar parts throughby warping therunners in a manner well known to those skilled in the art to which thisinvention appertains.

It will be observed that in the embodiment of my invention in this typeof vehicle, the side bars'or supports are formed with longitudinalgrooves 8 on their inner faces, the portions of the side bars orsupports in which these grooves are provided, being of a greaterthickness (as shown at 9) than the forward parts 10 of the side bars,which in sleds of this type must possess a degree of flexibilitysufficient to permit of the efficient steering of the vehicle. The sidebars 7 are connected and maintained in relatively parallel positions bythe usual transverse or cross tie-pieces 11.

The numeral 12 indicates the top -or seat of the sled, which ispreferably of a width sufiicient to bring the outer edges thereof in thesame vertical plane as theouter faces of the side bars or frame 7. Thetop or seat 12, it will be noted, is so shaped along its edges, as toform a tongue 13, extending longitudinally thereof and which is adaptedto fit within the groove 8, provided in the side bars 7, the relativedimensions of the tongue and groove'being so arranged as to permit of afree or sliding movement of the tongue within the latter, for thepurposes,

which will be hereinafter more fully explained.

In the formation of this tongue and the cooperation of the seat or top12 of the vehicle with the side bars or supports 7, it will be seen thatan extended bearing surface is provided for the seat or vehicle top 12,as shown at 14, this bearing surface being wholly supported by the upperface of the adjacent side bar or support 7. The combination of thisbearing surface and the tongue sliding within the groove produces asupporting means for the sliding top or seat 12, which possesses greatstrength and durability, so that the vehicle, as exemplified in theparticular illustrations now being described, may be put to considerablerough usage without impairing its degree of serviceability. a

From the foregoing description, it will be manifest that the object ofthe construction thus far described, is to provide a sliding seat ortop, the movement of which may be controlled by the user of the vehicle.It is obvious that in order to obtain an eflicienti and serviceabledevice of this character, means must be provided for limiting thesliding movement of the seat of the vehicle top and to this end, Iprovide stops 15 and 16, respectively, consisting of blocks or the like,rigidly secured to the underside of the vehicle seat 12, which arerespectively adapted to abut against the rear faces of the cross bars ortie pieces 11, when the seat 12 has reached its limit of movement in aforward direction. To limit the movement of the seat 12 in the reverseor rearward direction, I provide a stop 17 similar in construction tothose just described, which is arranged to abut against the forward faceof the rear transverse bar or tie piece 11. While these stops are hereinshown as in the form of blocks, which are secured to the underside ofthe seat 12 by means of screws or rivets 18, it is apparent that anyother suitable means for effecting the desired end may be employed, andI would have it understood that I do not limit myself to this particulardetail of structure in carrying my invention into effect.

In the employment of my invention, in conjunction with the particulartype of vehicle shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, we shall assume thatthe sled is being used for coasting purposes and is rapidly travelingdown grade under the weight of the rider and the impetus given to thevehicle by the force of gravitation. As is well known, when the vehiclenears the terminus of the grade or incline, it is the most natural thingfor the user to resort to a backward-andforward swaying movement of thebody in an endeavor to prolong the forward movement of the sled. Thismethod, while it is customarily resorted to, is far from beingsuccessful in the attainment of the desired end, in the ordinary type ofsled of the of these abutments hitting against the tie pieces,accelerating the movement of the vehicle and causing it to materiallyincrease its range of travel or transit. The return movement of thesliding seat 12 to its normal position is simply accomplished by theuser of the vehicle bracing himself against the steering bar 19 andpushing himself in a backward direction therefrom, the seat moving withhim until its motion is arrested by the stop 17 engaging the reartransverse frame member 11, as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be manifest that the reciprocatory movement of the sliding seat12, in the manner described, may be readily mastered, so that with alittle dexterity, the reciprocation may be so rapid and timed that thestops 15 and 16 will strike against the transverse bars 11 withconsiderable force, forcing the vehicle forward, .while in the rearwardmovement of the seat, the stops 17 aeeaao eration of the device beingeffected in the same manner.

In Fig. 8, I haveshown a modified form of my invention, wherein in lieuof the stops 16, I provide a means for limiting the movement of the seat12 in a forward direction by terminating the grooves 8 a short distancefrom the forward ends of the ways 20, which, in this embodiment of myinvention, may be independent of the side bars 7 of the vehicle andfirmly secured or attached there to by means of suitable screws or thelike.

Furthermore, in this modified form of my'invention, it will be noted,that the edges of the seat 12 are provided with an out wardly projectingtongue 21 extending longitudinally thereof, which is freely movablewithin the grooves 8, the upper surface of the seat 12 being flush withthe upper or top surface of the parallel ways 20, the seat beingslidable therebetween. By the construction of this modification of myinvention, it will be apparent that the portion adjacent to the seatbeing stationary afi'ords a means for gripping the sidesof the vehicle,so that if desired, the steering thereof may be accomplished by the feetpositioned on the steering bar 19, and the reciprocation of the seateffected by the conjoint use of the upper and lower limbs of the user,the sides or ways 20 being grasped by the hands.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to thespecificdetails.

of structure, shown in the several illustrations, it is obvious thatmany changes may be made in the construction ofmeans for guiding themovement of the seat and also for limiting the reciprocation thereof,without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, which isdirected to the improved propelling means consisting of a seat adaptedto be reciprocated, whereby its movement in one direction will producean impact or shock, which will serve to convey an added impetus to thevehicle, of which it is a part and thereby increase the momentumthereof.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new herein and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A means for accelerating the momentum of a vehicle, consisting of areciprocatory member mounted on the vehicle and arranged to abut againsta part of the vehicle to produce an impact of a degree sufiicient to addto the impetus or movement of the vehicle.

2. In a vehicle, the combination of a reciprocatory member mountedthereon, means for guiding the movement of said member, and meanscarried by said member and arranged to abut against a portion of saidvehicle, whereby a predetermined movement of said reciprocatory memberwill produce an impact to accelerate the movement of said vehicle.

3. In combination with a vehicle, a reciprocatory member mountedthereon, means carried by said vehicle and adapted to engage with meanscarried by said member to guide the movement of the latter, stopscarried by said reciprocatory member and arranged to limit the movementof said member in two directions, whereby the movement of said member ina predetermined direction will cause certain of said stops to abutagainst a portion of said vehicle to produce an impact and acceleratethe movement of the vehicle.

4. In a vehicle, the combination with a the movement of the seat in onedirection,

stops carried by said seat and arranged to abut against a portion ofsaid vehlcle to limit the movement of said seat in the other direction,whereby the reciprocation of said seat in a predetermined direction toabut against the cooperating portions of the ve-.

hicle will produce an impact to accelerate the movement of the vehicle.i

5. In a vehicle, the combination of a reciprocatory member, meansassociated with said member and said vehicle and adapted for cooperationto guide the reciprocatory movement of said member and means forlimiting such reciprocatory movement, whereby the movement of thevehicle will be accelerated.

6. In combination with a vehicle, having a pair of parallel side-bars.each side bar be ing formed with a groove therein, a seat mounted onsaid side bars and formed with a tongue arranged to fit within each ofsaid grooves, means for reciprocating said seat, and stops carried bysaid seat and arranged to engage with portions of said vehicle to limitthe movement of said seat in two directions, certain of the stopscarried by said seat being adapted to strike against the cooperatingportions of the vehicle with an impact sufficient to overcome theinherent inertia of the vehicle body.

7. The combination with a vehicle, of

the movement of the vehicle will be accel- 10 erated.

In witness whereoi I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J. ROSTERN. Witnesses:

7M. C. DUNN,

1. FRANK SoNNEK.

